WELLINGTON MAIN ROADS.

Taranaki Daily News, 30 December 1922, Page 5

WELLINGTON MAIN ROADS.

IMPROVING CITY OUTLETS. SPLENDID MOTORING ROUTE. The holidays have been the occasion for many people making motoring tour* from Wellington, both by way of the east and west coast main roads. In the past these main highways have had certain terrors for motorists, and especially for the nervous drivers, notably the ascent and descent of the Rimutaka Range and the trip over the Paekakariki hill on the eastern route. Recently, however, great improvements have been made, and the reducing of curves and the broadening of the roads so that cars can pass without danger of collision still goes on, gangs of men being at work on both roads.

As these are the only two road outlets from Wellington northward, the works, when completed, will be a great boon, and many complimentary references have been made to what is now being done by the Government in a district that has hitherto been sadly neglected in regard to its main highways.. The Rimutaka road, which is a long steep ascent, with many sharp bens, was probably the most dangerous main road in New Zealand. On a narrow pathway motor-cars had to pass beside unprotected abysses that went, almost steep down for hundreds of feet. At one bend the traveller is shown in the bed of a stream far below the remains of ears that have gone to destruction. When these road improvements are completed they will provide two of the finest motor excursions in the North Island. The views, both from the Paekakariki and Rimutaka summits, are extensive, and combine beauty with grandeur.